Derek Peter Clarke, in the RAF in WW2

[Wattsfamily]

Hallo everyone,
I am researching Derek Peter Clarke...sometimes mispelt without the 'e' on Clarke... he was born 2 January 1924 in Coventry and died 15 September 2009 in Adelaide. He was my half sister's father.
I don't know when he joined the RAF but I understand that he maintained and serviced aircraft and I believe he eventually became part of the flight crew on board the aircraft. He was based in Essex throughout the war and left the RAF at the end of the war in 1945 - 1946 when he travelled to Rhodesia to join the Police force.
I am hoping to find his service number to enable me, or my half sister, to apply for his military record and discover which RAF Group he was attached to.
If anyone can help I would be most grateful.
I'd be happy provide any further info if requested.
Thank you,
Mary

[wwrsimon]

Mary

Air 78/32 has two Derek Peter Clarke cards:

CLARKE Derek Peter 1603634

CLARKE Derek Peter 4144384 (number is probably right - that particular card is faint)

I'm guessing he may be the first one, allocated 1941?

Of course there may be others as Air 78 isn't infallible.

Regards

Simon

[David Duxbury]

The second number (4144384) looks a bit like an RAAF number, although if that were the case, it should have an "AUS" prefix to identify his actual service. However the RAF/RAFVR almost certainly issued that same number (without prefix)! Only made this suggestion because at some point he seems to have settled in Australia, although whether this was prewar is quite another question. I admit this is an unlikely scenario so hopefully will be easy to eliminate this faint possibility from your enquiries!

David D

[wwrsimon]

Could 4144384 be a post war number?

Regards

Simon

[Wattsfamily]

Hallo David,
Derek Peter Clarke was based somewhere in Essex when he joined the RAF and didn't emmigrate to Australia until the 1960's. I hope that helps.
Thank you for looking for me.
Mary

[Wattsfamily]

Hi Simon,
Thank you for looking for me. So you think that that the 1603634 number for Derek Peter Clarke is the most likely?

As he was born in January 1924 that would make him around 17-18 in 1941 when he joined, so this seems right.

Is there any way to completely rule out the other number 4144384?

I think I may take the chance and apply for his service records using the 1603634 number.

Regards

Mary

[PeteS]

The 4 prefix number has too many digits to be an RAAF service number, all of their 4 prefix numbers had 6 digits (possibly some had 5 ?) but none were 7 digit as far as i know.
cheers PeteS

[Ross_McNeill]

Would not even try to guess a service number for a Records Application.

All you need to know is a month and year of birth and provide, if death did not occur while in service, an image of the death certificate (best amount of info return if dead more than 25 years ago - limited return for this unless a close relative applies)

The online form method from GOV.UK guides you through the simple questions. Ask for "informal review of Mustering for publication" when you do the application.

Time scale for online service record return is currently stated as 6 weeks but they are achieving 3 to 4 weeks for non complex records.

Ross